I am a Registered Professional Planner (RPP). I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in City Studies Co-op and Political Science from the University of Toronto in 2017 and a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto in 2020. Since then, my professional journey has unfolded through diverse work and volunteering experiences on a global scale.
In 2017, I participated in the Kakihashi Project, venturing to Japan to study and learn about the rebuilding efforts in the tsunami-devastated cities of northeastern Japan. The same year, I joined Parks Canada’s Northern Engagement team in Vancouver, gaining valuable insights into the West Coast and contributing to Parks Canada’s conservation efforts. That summer also saw me in the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland as part of the Students on Ice expedition, focusing on understanding the impacts of climate change and acknowledging the significance of Indigenous knowledge in conservation. Subsequently, as a delegate at the IMPAC4 conference in La Serena, Chile, in September 2017, I deepened my understanding of international marine conservation efforts. In 2018, I became part of the Ocean Bridge program, undertaking visits to Haida Gwaii and the Gulf Islands to explore marine conservation within a Canadian context.
Motivated by my Arctic experiences, I enrolled in the Master of Science in Planning program at the University of Toronto in the fall of 2018. Throughout the program, I collaborated with exceptional classmates and learned from leading professors, gaining a profound understanding of decolonizing the planning process and the importance of working with Indigenous communities, and knowledge to reshape existing planning structures. As part of this program, I co-produced a report on the significance of mentorship for BIPOC students and early professionals in planning. My thesis, which explored planners’ obligations to the Dish with One Spoon treaty in Southern Ontario, received recognition.
Since graduating in 2020, I have applied my expertise working for Parks Canada on their Indigenous Relations team, collaborating with Indigenous partners on diverse projects. Since June 2022, I have worked at Transport Canada’s Indigenous Relations Unit in Ontario, focusing on files related to the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA), Cumulative Impacts of Marine Shipping (CEMS), and the Ocean Protection Plan (OPP).
My professional interests lie in youth engagement, urban planning, Indigenous relations, and fostering non-scientific engagement in marine conservation.
